Mastodawn

Susan Dye Dec 9, 2023

Just a few more work commitments left before I can retreat fully into midwinter holiday mode. This December has been harder than almost any I can remember for keeping a positive mental outlook. Tai chi helps. Plus making things. Here's a wreath I made at a craft workshop last weekend, a gift from a wise friend.

Susan Dye Aug 5, 2023

I've been feeling a bit low lately, thinking too much about things I can't change easily, if at all. Then I forget that what's happening in the dye garden is all good. Here's a patch of dyer's coreopsis sown direct and growing profusely. And some blue corn growing much better than expected. The blue corn seed was gifted to me by a friend. Eagerly hoping it produces corn cobs. #naturaldye #dyegarden

Susan Dye Jul 3, 2023

Been watching the bumble bees enjoying the wild marjoram on an allotment plot we temporarily have custodianship of. The soil quality is quite poor but the wildlife value is high. #pollinatorgarden

Susan Dye Jun 30, 2023

Spent 2 days this week in a pasture field talking about dye plants with farmers. Two years ago we were invited to create a dye plant demo plot at Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Show, just half an hour cycle ride from where we live in Hertfordshire. It has been fascinating to see which plants thrive in a field setting. The Cherry family, who created and host the show, steward their land with great care. We are humbled to be a small part of the event #soil #soilhealth #notillagriculture

Susan Dye Jun 19, 2023

The dye garden is finally beginning to look good, with yellow dyer's chamomile (cota tinctoria) the first to flower alongside dyer's woodruff (asperula tinctoria) with its white cloud of frothy flowers.

Most dye plants seem to have yellow flowers! So we also grow some blue flowered plants for bees as a nice contrast. Here you can see Viper's bugloss (echium vulgare) which is an outstanding dye plant. It is biennial and we let is self seed wherever it wants to grow.
#DyeGarden

Susan Dye Jun 13, 2023

Dog sitting for a couple of days round the corner from home. Amazing how a change of scene and a focus on an animal whose trust I need to win over clears the mind.

Like a tiny retreat. Eating more healthily and feeling calmer. I brought along my watercolour kit to try and rekindle my daily drawing diary.

Very out of practice!

Susan Dye Jun 10, 2023

At my sister's for the weekend and despite the heat I'm doing a little gardening. She's got no outdoor tap at the moment so almost no watering has happened for months. It's interesting to see what has survived and even thrived. We mulched heavily in the winter which has helped. She has a patch of unmowed lawn which is looking gorgeous with ox-eye daisies. They move in the wind so well and are line of sight from the kitchen sink.

Susan Dye May 28, 2023

Our backyard is finally coming into flower. There's a lot crammed into a small space, mostly herbaceous perennials. The apple trees and oak will eventually transform it into a tiny woodland garden but I don't mind. Good for insects and birds and nature's aircon for summer heatwaves to come. There are a few dyeplants here, including Dyer's Broom (genista tinctoria) which will have yellow flowers. These attract leafcutter bees in june/july. Everything is late this this year. #GardeningMastodon

Susan Dye May 11, 2023

Does anyone else have a Newton's Wonder apple tree? Ours is approx 6 years old and incredibly productive. It is covered in sweet smelling blossom at the moment (small tree at front). But we chose a very small rootstock (our garden is tiny) and last year the tree could barely hold the weight of fruit. A friend suggested radical pruning to train it as a cordon with a super strong stake. Our second tree, on larger rootstock (at the back) is Blenheim Orange and still producing very little blossom.

Susan Dye Apr 30, 2023

Intended to go for a two hour walk today. Ended up on a four hour walk because of bluebells. It was a good day to see them. Not too bright but warm enough to pick up their perfume now and then.